Flexible link ammunition chute



June 26, 1956 E; KOLEHMAINEN FLEXIBLE, LINK AMMUNITION CHUTE Filed Feb. 17, 1951 JNVENTOR ATTORNEY- E': K01. EAMA/NEN,

United States Patent 6 FLEXIBLE LINK AMMUNITION CHUTE Elmar Kolehmainen, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to West Coast Tool & Supply 00., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application February 17, 1951, Serial No. 211,560 3 Claims. (Cl. 193-25) The present invention relates to ammunition chutes of the type described in my copending application, Serial No. 123,131, filed October 24, 1949, now Pat. No. 2,596,252.

As in my earlier application, it is the important feature of the invention that the interior surface of the chute must present a continuous, smooth and unbroken surface. Furthermore where, as in the present case, the ammunition is transferred through the chute to the gun within a chain of receptacles of odd shape and the chain of un' loaded receptacles again is carried away from the gun through such chute, it is even more important to provide a continuously smooth and unbroken passage through the chute.

With this and other objects in view, the invention resides in the combinations hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing of which:

Fig. 1 shows, in perspective, one end of an ammunition chute embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevational view through one of the links of the chute showing its relation to and connection with adjacent links;

Fig. 3 is a substantially corresponding end view of one of the links of the chute;

Fig. 4 shows, on a somewhat larger scale, one of the links as it appears when removed from the chain of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the inner lining of the links; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the outer frame member of each link.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the device of the invention consists generally of an adapter A which is designed for attachment to conventional ammunition feeding or ejecting mechanisms and from which extends a series of links 10. It is to be understood that a similar adapter would be attached to the opposite end of the chute and that these adapters may be of any conventional shape best suited for the purpose of maintaining the chute freely extending from such mechanisms. The links of the chute, which are all identically shaped, consist of an outer frame 11 and inner lining 12, the crosssectional shape of which may be varied to accommodate the particular type of ammunition to be guided through the chute. The particular shape shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing is designed freely to encompass the units B of the carrier chain within which ammunition is lodged for transfer to a gun. The inner lining 12 is rigidly secured in position within the outer frame in any suitable manner as by a spot welding operation.

The outer frame consists of an upper member 13 and a lower member 14, which also are rigidly combined by a spot welding operation substantially as indicated at 15 in Fig. 4. It is important to note that the lower portions 13 and 13 of the upper member are offset to receive therein the upper edges of the lower member.

The inner lining 12 similarly consists of an upper member 16 and a lower member 17, the upper edges of which nest within the offset portions 16, 16 at the lower edges of the upper member, and these overlapping edges are rigidly combined in the same manner that the upper and lower members of the outer frame are fastened together, substantially as indicated at 18 in Fig. 5. The size and shape of this inner lining is such that it will fit snugly within the outer frame, whereupon the two parts are rigidly interlocked by spot welding the parts together in any convenient places where the walls of one part touch the walls of the other part. Such welding is indicated at 19 in Fig. 4. And it is important to note that the lower edges of the upper member 16 are offset to receive therein the upper edge portions 17*, 17 of the lower member. When so constructed, it is seen that the inner surfaces at the joints between the upper and lower members are perfectly smoothly and evenly aligned.

Further considering the construction of the outer frame, it is noticed that the center portions of the upper and lower walls of this frame are shown upwardly and downwardly recessed to provide spaces for receiving therein hook-shaped elements which are formed by extending lips 22 from one end of the frame and folding these lips inwardly, substantially as indicated at 20, 21, Fig. 2 of the drawing. It is important to note that the inner surfaces 25, 26, of these hooks are in continued alignment with the inner surfaces of the upper and lower walls of the frame. It is furthermore important to note that, when the lining is mounted within the frame, the top and bottom surfaces of the lining come to rest snugly against these inner surfaces of the hooks. From the opposite ends of the top and bottom walls of the frame extend loops 27, 28 of a width freely to straddle the hooks of the next following link. These hooks and loops constitute the sole means of interconnecting the links of the chute and the loops are for this purpose forced through the spaces between the hooks and the adjacent surfaces of the inner lining freely to lodge in the recessed portions of the frame beyond the inner ends of the hooks. It is important to note also that the spaces within these recesses are so much wider than the hooks that ample clearance is provided at each side of the hooks for the side members 27*, 28 of the loops. The interengaging links are in this manner afforded ample freedom of flexing movement in all directions.

It is to be noted that the inner lining extends from one end of the frame all the way to and beyond the ends of the loops when the lining is mounted in position within the frame. The liner may thus be regarded as having an extension, which surrounds the passage, and which projects beyond the outer frame and into the liner of the next adjacent frame in the series, where it lies adjacent and partially overlaps the next liner, and is in sliding contact therewith. One of the primary features of the present chute is the provision of a liner which is closed at its corner portions, including the corner portions of its said extension. This is particularly important where the article to pass through the chute has portions or formations which might otherwise interfere with any discontinuities in the corner portions of the liner or its extension. With such closed corner portions, however, a sort of box-section is formed, and while the walls of this section are somewhat resilient, still a certain stiffness is contributed by this type of section, particularly when compared with certain devices of the prior art where the liner consists simply of resilient leaf-like walls, the walls being unconnected at the edges. Accordingly, it is a further important feature of my invention that the liner extensions be slightly convergent in form, as may be seen in Figure 2, so that the liner extensions of each link will of the carrier chain therethrough.

be readily received within the liner of the next link in the series. Additionally, for added flexibility, the liner extensions may be slotted top and bottom and in opposite edge walls, as indicated. i

As best shown in Fig. 3, the links of the chute are shaped to receive the peculiar shape of ammunition carrier for which the chute is designed. 'The inner surface of the liner provides a continuously smooth and unbroken passage, for the carrier without any notches, projections or overlaps whatever to hinder the movement This is the important feature of the invention. a

I claim:

1. A flexible chute comprising: a series of articulated chute elements composed of articulated sheet metal outer frames of box-section formed to entirely enclose a passage, each of saidouterframes having two parallel opposite side walls, and two edge walls connecting said side walls, central panel portions of said side walls being outwardly offset, means on the edges of said outwardly offset central panel portions for connecting successive outer frames for variation in the spacing and relative angles thereof, and sheet metal liner frames of box-section fixed to the outer frames consisting of two flat walls positioned in contact with the inside surfaces of said two edge walls, and with two fiat walls positioned in contact with the inside surfaces of the non-offset portions of said two parallel side walls, the four flat inner frame walls integrally joining one another in the four angles of said outer frame, said four inner liner frame walls having projecting convergent wall portions extending from said outer frames and slidably received inside the liner frames of the next adjacent chute elements in the series to partially overlap and lie adjacent and in sliding contact with the inside surface of said liner frames in said next adjacent chute elements, the projecting convergent portions of said four inner liner frame walls integrally joining one another to form closed corner portions projecting from the interior angles of the corresponding outer frame, so

as to provide a convergent box-section extension with closed corner portions.

2. 'The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said projecting portions of said four liner frame walls are formed between said closed corner portions with narrow longitudinally extending notches opening through the extremities of said projecting wall'portions to give flexibility to said convergent box-section without opening it at its corner portions.

3. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said liner frames comprise two generally U-shaped members arranged and assembled with one another to have overlapped side portions within the outer frames fastened to one another to form the two wall portions contacting the inside surfaces of the two edge walls of the outer frame, and with the portions thereof connecting said sides contacting the inside surfaces of the non-ofiset portions of the side walls of the outer frame, said U-shaped members projecting from said outer frames to form said convergent projecting wall portions, the projecting portion of a side portion of at least one of said U-shaped members adjacent each outer frame edge wall being notched back so that said side portions of said U-shaped members overlap only inside said outer frames and are spaced from one another to form a narrow gap outside said frames, said gap being located between the corner portions of the projecting box-section, and the projecting portions of the liner frame walls adjacent said side walls of said outer frames being formed with notches extending inwardly from their extremities at locations between the corner portions of said projecting box-section.

References Cited in the file'of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

